Adjustable concrete form



July 6,1925. 1,591,558

F. A. PIKE ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FORM Filed Oct. l0, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 19 za /j '7 e July 6 1926. l 1,591,558

F. A. PIKE:

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FORM Filed OCT.. l0, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYJuly 6 1926.

1,591,558 F. PIKE ADJUSTABLF;1y CONCRETE FORM Filed Oct, 1G, 1925 I5Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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14 ATTORNEY l Patented .uly 6, 192C.

PATENT OFFICE FRANK A. PIKE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FORM.

Application led. Gctcber 10,1925. Serial No. 61,708.

The present invention relates to forms into which concrete is poured forgiving definite shape to the articles being made, an object of theinvention being to provide a device particularly adapted for placementon the tops of chimneys for forming concrete caps.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable form forconcrete chimney caps that is of simple, strong and inexpensiveconstruction, and one that not only has a wide range of adjustment butis so ccmstructedv as to be readily assembled and disassembledandrequiring the labor of but one man.

And, a still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustableform by means of which rectangular objects of vari ous sizes may bemade,'such, for instance, as window sills, caps, steps, buttress blocksand the like.

To these and other ends the invention consists of a form built up ofparts and combinations of parts as will be fully set forth in thefollowing description and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention are as follows:

Figure l is a top plan view of a form for chimney caps and shows itplaced upon a chimney, the latter being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail on the line 2 2, Fig. 1,the chimney also being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the form.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a form for chimney caps but withthe side frame members of modified construction.

Fig. 5 shows in perspective a fragmentary portion of one of the sideframe members seen in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of'a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View on the line 7-7, Fig. 6. Y

And, Fig. 8 shows in perspective a fragmentary portion of the form seenin Figs. 6 and 7.

In the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the severalviews.

In the` form shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 there are. four similar sidemembers l arranged at right angles to each other and when thus assembledcomprise a rectangular frame.

These side frame members are, preferably, I

of sheet metal and shaped as angle' bars, the horizontal portion 2 ofeach member being reinforced by a downwardly projecting flange 3 alongits side edge and by a longitudinally extending upwardly pressed rib et,while the vertical portion is reinforced by an outwardly turned flangebalong its yupper edge and a 'similarly turnedflange 7 along at least oneend edge. The horizontal portion 2 of each side member l is cut backfrom one end, preferably the flanged end 7, a distance equal to ahorizontal portion 2, and the lower edge of the vertical portion l5projecting beyond thehorizontal portion is grooved at 8 to receive therib l of a transversely extending sidemember.

These side frame. members l are so arranged relatively to each otherthat the cutaway end of each is slidable along the inner face of arespective transverse member, thefend edge of the horizontal portion 2engaging `the fiange 3 of the transverse member while the flanged end 7abuts the vertical portion 5 of suchv member. The cutaway ends ofopposite side members are diagonally opposed and it will be seen that,in adjusting the form for caps ofvarious sizes, opposite sidemembers aremovable relatively toward and from eachother and in opposite directionsin planes parallel to each other, the form remaining rectangular in allpositions of adjustment. Opposingside members are movable toward eachother until their flanged edges 3 are in Contact, and from each other adistance substantially equal to theirlength. Thus, the length of theside members 1 and the width of their horizontal portions 2 determinethe limits of adjustment of the form. j

Any suitable fastening devices may be employed for holding the sidemembers of the form together. In this instance I provide each member ladjacent its flanged end 7 with a clamp comprising an arched bar 9pivoted at one end on a stud 10 extending outwardly from the verticalportion 5 and threaded to receive a lock nut 11. Each such bar engagesunder a respective transverse side member 1 and along which the sidemember to which it is pivoted is adjustable, and at its free end isformed with a head through which is threaded a thumb screw l2, suchscrew being 'used to clamp the flanged end l7 of the member on which theclamp is pivoted to the vertical portion 5 of such transverse member.

The form as hereinabove described is particularly adapted for makingchimney caps and, when in use, is :first adjusted so tha-t the flanges 3on the horizontal portions 2 of the side members engage the chimney wall13 with the said horizontal portions substantially on a level with thetop of the wall. As a means -of supporting the form in such positionwhile the concrete is being poured to form the cap 14 and until Ait hasbecome set, each horizontal portion 2 is provided with a lurality ofinwardly projectw ing lugs which vrest upon the chimney wall. In this'instance these flugs 15 are p'ivoted at 16 to the under face of the.horizontal portion 2 and, when turned to Voperative position, projectthrough openings 17 in the flange When in inoperative position, to whichthe lugs yare turned when the concrete has set ,and the form is rbei-ngdisassembled, lone edge lies substantially flush with the inner face ofthe flange '3, and to facilitate turning of the lugs their 'inner endsare bent downwardly as at 18 to permit being tapped by -a hammer orother suitable implement. Thechimney cap 14 surrounds the flue lining19, which 4projects above the chimney 'wall`13 kand overhangssuch wall.lhe comple-te form, then, for moulding the cap comprises the side framemembers 1 which lform the outer wall and the Ibottom wall fortheoverhanging portion, the .top surface of the chimney wall which formsthe remainder of the bottom wall, and the flue lining 19 which forms theinner wall. The ca it will be understood, will .have a channe' 2O alongVeach side 'in its under face, formed by the r'ibs 4, the purpose ofthese channels being to provide Va drip edge or edges onpthe under sideof the cap. The purpose of pivoting the lugs 15 is to permit them to "beswung clear of the chimney wall so that, when the form is being removedand taken apart, the side members 11 may be lowered in order that ytheribs 4 will clear the channels formed in the A'bottom of `the chimneycap.

For use in forming 4caps not requiring the drip edge, a form `such asshown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be employed. In this instance theconstruction is the same as hereinabove described with Vthe exceptionthat the horizontal portion of each side frame member is not providedwith a rib 4 and it is not necessary to pivot the lugs as the sidemembers, when the form istaken down, are simply ldrawn outwardly Afromthe vcap after the clamps have been released. Thus the lugs 15,projecting inwardly from the hori.- zont-al 'portions 2 `are formed bypressing portions ofthe flanges 3 upwardly into the plane of thehorizontal portions.

Refer now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 which show a modification of the inventionused in forming various rectangular objects as hereinbefore set forth,and which is adapted to be vplaced upon vany suitable support. Thisform, in any position of adjustment, is also rectangulares-1d comprisesthree similar side members 21 and a fourth member 22. Each side framemember has a vertical portion 23, the four of which constitute the sidewall of the form, and each such portion is preferably `reinforced alongits upper edge by an outwardly turned flange 24 and along one end edgeby a similarly turned flange 25.

The member 22 has a horizontal portion 2G w which comprises the bottomwall of the form, and the three members 21 are provided with narrowerhorizontal bottom portions 27 which are turned outwardly and rest uponthe bottom wall 26. the bottom Wall of the member 22, only, projectsbeyond an end of its vertical portion 23 and there are no downwardlyprojecting flanges on any of the horizon-tal bot- Vtom portions. Also,the pivoted l-ugs 15, described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, andlugs 15a, Figs. 4 and 5, are dispensed with.

The clamps at the four corners of the form and comprising the parts 9and. 12 are similar to those described with reference to the chimney capfor-m and are similarly mounted except that the arched bars engage overinstead of under their respective transverse side frame members.

In this modification each side frame member has one endabutting theinner face of the vertical portion 23 of a transverse member and itsother end projecting 'beyond the vertical portion ofthe oppositetransverse member. Also, in adjustment, opposing side members are movedtoward and from each other and in opposite directions parallel to eachother.- In the form for chimney caps the inwardly turned bottom portions2 form a marginal 'bottom wall, while in the modifica-tion of theinvention just above described the horizontal portion 26 of one of theframe members forms the entire bottom wal-l and upon which the outwardlyturned bottom portions 27 of the three side members 21 rest.

The form shown in Figs. '6, '7 and 8, if intended for use in makingwindow sills, has means such as an upwardly pressed rib 28 in the bottomwall 26, such rib being parallel to and adjacentl the vertical portion23 of the side member carrying the 'bottom 2G,the member 21 slidablealong and extending transversely of the member 22 being suitablyconformed to receive such rib 1and slide thereover, the purpose of therib being to form Va drip edge along one edge of the sill on its underside.

The vertical portions 23 ,of the members In this modification "l llt) 2land 22 are provided with perforations 29 for y receiving nails which maybe passed therethrough intothe concrete to hold the frame membersagainst vertical displacement should the form be supported upon anuneven surface, the nails being withdrawn when the form is removed.

It is believed that from the foregoing the construction and manner ofusing the forms are sufficiently clear to call for no furtherexplanation.

What I claim is:

1. Anadjustable concrete form comprising four side members arranged atright angles to each other, opposing members being movable toward andfrom each other and in opposite directions along parallel lines, andsecuring means pivoted to the outer face of each member and adapted toclamp one end thereof against the inner face of a side member extendingtransversely of the clamp carrying member.

2. An adjustable concrete form comprising four side members arranged atright angles to each other, opposing members being movable toward andfrom each other and in opposite directions along parallel planes, an armpivoted to the outer face of each side member, and a clamping screwthreaded in said arm, the clamp consisting of such arm and screw holdingone end of the side member to which it is pivoted against the inner faceof the side member along which the first named member is movable whenadjusting the form.

3. A side member for a form of the character described comprising avertical portion reinforced along its upper edge, a horizontal ortion,and an upwardly pressed longitu inally extending rib on the horizontalportion.

Ll. A side member for a form of the character described comprising avertical portion, a horizontal portion, and longitudinally extendingmeans on the upper face of the horizont-al portion for forming a dripedge along the under lface of the article to be formed.

5. A side member for a form of the character described comprising avertical portion and a horizontal portion, an outwardly turned flangealong the upper edge and one end edge of the vertical portion, and adownwardly turned flange along the side edge of the horizontal portion,the flanged end of the vertical portion projecting beyond the horizontalportion.

G. A side member for a form of the character described comprising twoportions at an angle to each other, a lug pivoted to one of saidportions and adapted when moved to operative position to project beyondthe free edge, and longitudinally extending means on the inner face ofthe lug carrying portion intermediate the lug and the juncture of saidtwo port-ions for forming a drip edge' along the under face of thearticle to be formed.

7. A side member for a form of the character described comprising avertical portion, a horizontal portion, a flange projecting downwardlyfrom the side edge of the horizontal portion and formed with an opening,a lug member pivoted to the under face of the horizontal portion, saidlug extending through the said opening when moved to operative position,and longitudinally extending means on the upper face of the horizontalportion intermediate said lug and the juncture of the horizontal andvertical po-rtions, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a form of the character described, four side members arranged atright angles to each other, each member comprising a vertical portion, ahorizontal portion, an outwardly turned flange along the upper edge andone end edge of the vertical portion, and a downwardly turned iiangealong the side edge of the horizontal portion, the iianged end of eachvertical portion projecting beyond its respective horizontal portion soas to engage over the horizontal portion of a transverse side member andabut the vertical portion thereof, and securing means pivoted to theouter face of each vertical portion and adapted to clamp the flanged endthereof against the inner face of the vertical portion which it abuts.

9. The combination, with a chimney wall and a flue lining projectingabove the wall, of a cap form comprising four side members arranged atright angles to each other,each such member having a vertical portionand a horizontal portion with the inner edge of the latter engaging thechimney wall, means comprising pivoted lugs on said horizontal portionsfor supporting the side members upon the chimney wall, and means carriedby the frame members for clamping such members together, one end of thevertical portion of each side member engaging over the horizontalportion of a transverse side member and abutting the vertical portionthereof.

10. The combination with a chimney wall and a flue lining projectingabove the wall, of a cap form comprising four side members arranged atright angles to each other, each such member having a vertical portion,a horizontal portion on a level with the top of the chimney wall, anoutwardly turned flange along the upper edge and one end edge of thevertical portion, and a downwardly turned flange with openings thereinalong the inner edge of the horizontal portion such flangel engaging thechimney wall, means for supporting the side members comprising lugspivoted to the under side of said horizontal portions and which whenturned to operattive position project through the seid openings and restupon the chinmey Wall and .s clamp at each corner of the form forsecuring' the side members together, the flanged end or each Verticalrportion engaging over the horizontal ,portion of n. ytransverse -sidemember and shutting the vertical portion thereof.

11. A form of the Character .described in- @hidingr two side members ntright angles 1o euch other :ind each having' n, ver-tieni .portion and:i horizontal portion, one. end yof the vertical portion of one memberengaging over the horizontal por-,tion of the other member and abuttingthe inner face of the vertical portion thereof a clamping .bar pivotedat one end on the outer face :off the i'irst nuined ii'ieinbns verticalportion adjacent said abutting end and -a clamping screw threaded intheother end of said bar and adapted to srrew against the `outer face ofthe vertical portion oi said second .named inen'iber.

FRANK A. PIKE.

